Restraint of trade by networks and network participants

§ 2955. Restraint of trade by networks and network participants. The activities of rural health networks and providers participating therein, undertaken in furtherance of planning, implementing or operating a network or promoting the efficient delivery of health care services in a rural area, shall be exempt from the provisions and penalties of article twenty-two of the general business law respecting arrangements and agreements in restraint of trade. No hospital, physician or other licensed or certified health care provider operating in good standing, serving the area of the network, and willing to meet the terms and conditions of the network as defined in the network plan, shall be denied the ability to participate therein. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require a hospital to grant admitting privileges to a physician solely because such physician is a participant in or a member of the network.